Financial Aid & Scholarships

Prospective & Current Undergraduate Students

At the Corcoran College of Art + Design, we know how important financial planning is to your college selection process. In addition to making the process of determining how to fund your education as easy as possible, we offer a comprehensive merit scholarship and need-based financial aid program for our new students. Through a combination of institutional merit scholarships and grants, federal and state aid, and tuition payment plans, we help make the personalized Corcoran education affordable.

Scholarship and Financial Aid Profile

For Entering Undergraduate Class of 2010:

100% received Corcoran scholarships/grants

$29,000: Average aid package provided

53% of student packages comprised of scholarships and grants

MERIT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM

Inspiring and Rewarding Excellence

The Corcoran College of Art + Design’s merit scholarship program is committed to recognizing past academic and artistic achievements as well as promise for future success. Students are automatically considered for merit aid on a rolling basis upon their acceptance to the Corcoran, and no additional application forms are required. In 2010–2011, new undergraduate students are estimated to have received more than one million dollars in merit recognition for their first year of studies at the Corcoran. Awards range from $2,500 to $12,000 per year. Scholarships are multi-year commitments, enabling total amounts to equal up to $48,000 over four years of study. Award amounts are determined by a careful review of each student’s academic and artistic application materials. These include all official transcripts, test scores, and art, design and/or photography portfolios. Depending on the time of year, new students are notified of their merit scholarship by letter shortly after their acceptance or at the time of their acceptance.

Sample Merit Scholarship Awards

First-time freshmen

Merit scholars may also qualify for need-based financial aid.

How to Apply

All undergraduate applicants are automatically considered for merrit based scholarships.

FINANCIAL AID PROGRAMS

Working with You and Your Family

The College awards financial aid through federal, state, private, and institutional sources. We encourage families from all income levels to apply for financial aid. Every new Bachelor’s student will minimally receive institutional aid to recognize merit and artistic talent. Students must complete the Free

Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for automatic consideration to receive assistance from all federal programs and Corcoran need-based aid. FAFSA forms can be filed online at www.fafsa.gov. We recommend filing as soon as possible after January 1 for the upcoming Fall term.

The Corcoran College of Art + Design offers financial assistance through its own Corcoran Grant, as well as the Federal Pell Grant, the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG ), the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG), the Federal Work Study Program, Federal Perkins Loans, Subsidized and Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans, and PLUS Loans for Parents. Beginning in March for the upcoming Fall term, the Corcoran provides families with comprehensive financial aid awards.

For more information on all need-based financial aid programs offered by the Corcoran, please visit www.corcoran.edu.

ADDITIONAL FINANCING OPTIONS

Combining Resources to Complete Your Package

Your family may wish to supplement a financial aid award or elect to finance a portion of educational expenses. Additional outside scholarships, grants, or private loans may be available. The

Corcoran also offers a convenient payment plan for students who wish to pay off each year’s expenses within the same academic year. Additional grants and scholarships are often available through clubs, employers, and other private organizations. We encourage you to investigate sources from all affiliations. Veterans and members of the armed forces should also explore available educational resources.

State-Sponsored Scholarships and Grants

Be sure to contact your state education agency for application and deadline information. Residents of the District of Columbia can go to www.seo.dc.gov to see if they qualify for grants and scholarships.

Scholarships on the Web

Many free scholarship searches are available online. The sites below will generate a list of scholarships you may be eligible to receive, based on the information you provide.

www.fastweb.com

www.salliemaefund.org

www.finaid.org

www.gocollege.com

www.collegenet.com

www.scholarships.com

www.scholarshiphunter.com

Private Loans

Private loans are credit-based loans available to students enrolled at least half-time in a qualifying degree program. A student’s eligibility and loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance.

Below are lenders for you to consider:

Smart Option Student Loan

www.salliemae.com

(888) 272-5543

Wells Fargo

Wellsfargo.com/moneyforcollege

(877) 437-3029

Monthly Payment Plan

The Corcoran offers convenient monthly payment plans through TuitionPay that allow students to make interest-free payments during an 8–10 month period for the academic year. The annual fee to enroll in 2010 is $55.

Prospective & Current Graduate Students

Attending graduate school at the Corcoran places you in a select group of serious students who invest in an exceptional advanced education at one of the most historic art and design colleges in the nation. The Corcoran assists you with a number of scholarships and loans to help make pursuing an advanced degree affordable for you. Please review the information on this website, and contact us at the numbers and/or e-mail addresses listed below with additional questions. We look forward to assisting you.

Graduate Scholarships and Fellowships

CORCORAN GRADUATE DEAN’S MERIT SCHOLARSHIPS

Each year the Corcoran awards a select number of merit-based scholarships ranging in value from $1,000 to $3,000. These awards are bestowed upon deserving graduate students following a selection committee’s careful review of all applicants’ past accomplishments, academic performance, and perceived promise of contribution to the Corcoran program.

Corcoran Graduate Scholarships and Dean’s Merit Awards are offered as a one-time award or recurring annual award, based on full-time enrollment (nine or more credits per semester) and maintenance of a minimum 3.5 grade point average.

CORCORAN GRADUATE FELLOWSHIPS

The Corcoran Graduate Fellowship Program awards excellence in a particular field of study, and awards are valued at $6,000 for each year of full-time study at the graduate level. Graduate Fellows are expected to work 10 hours per week over the course of 15 weeks for the College of Gallery as part of the award’s requirements.

Corcoran Graduate Fellowships are offered as a one-time award or recurring annual award, based on full-time enrollment (nine or more credits per semester) and maintenance of a minimum 3.5 grade point average.

Get Creative About Financial Possibilities

In addition to federal loans and merit scholarships offered through the Corcoran, consider the following possibilities for financing your graduate education:

Graduate Grants

These need-based grants are awarded by a scholarship committee based upon the students financial qualifications, and paid in the form of tuition remission. You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and demonstrate financial need to be eligible for this program.

Teaching Assistantships

You may apply for a Teaching Assistantship, working under the direction of a Corcoran faculty member, by contacting your department head for details. The teaching assistantship is typically $1,200 per class and the duties vary according to the curricular requirements of the class. Your department head can provide further details on this opportunity for funding.

Scholarship on the Web

Many free scholarship searches are available online. The sites below will generate a list of scholarships you may be eligible to receive, based on the information you provide.

www.fastweb.com

www.salliemaefund.org

www.finaid.org

www.gocollege.com

www.collegenet.com

www.scholarships.com

www.scholarshiphunter.com

Private Loans

Private loans are credit-based loans available to students enrolled at least half-time in a qualifying degree program. A student’s eligibility and loan amount cannot exceed the cost of attendance.

Below are lenders for you to consider:

Smart Option Student Loan

www.salliemae.com

(888) 272-5543

Custom Choice Loan

www.suntrusteducation.com/

customchoice

(866) 232-3889

Chase Select Private Loan

www.chaseselectloans.com

(866) 306-0868

Academic Answer Loan

www.suntrusteducation.com/

academicanswer

(866) 763-6350

Monthly Payment Plan

The Corcoran offers convenient monthly payment plans through TuitionPay that allow students to make interest-free payments during an 8–10 month period for the academic year. The annual fee to enroll in 2010 is $55.